Posted on: 5 May 2010

Mosque at Seringapatam (Mysore) - July 1799.

Water-colour painting of a mosque at Seringapatam by Colin MacKenzie (1754-1821) in July 1799. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'Grand Mosque at Seringapatam after the Capture of the Place in May. Drawn in July, 1799.'


Srirangapatnam is an island set into the River Kaveri in the modern-day state of Karnataka in south-west India. The Vijayanagar rulers built a fort here in 1454. In 1616 it became the capital of the Mysore Wadayar Rajas. Later it was the capital of the renowned Rajas of Mysore, Haidar Ali (c. 1722-1782) and Tipu Sultan (1753-1799). Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were responsible for turning the small state of Mysore into a major Muslim power but were opposed by the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the British who engaged with the Rajas in four wars for the control of southern India. On 4 May 1799 the British stormed the Raja’s island fortress at Seringapatam and Tipu Sultan was killed. This painting was executed shortly after that event.

source : British Library


 View Post on Facebook

Comments from Facebook

Hello. Interesting info. Never knew such info existed. Is it possible to get copies of this watercolour painting. great history in a frame (250 odd years ago) in a frame. !!!

Welcome to the RBSI Aleem...you'll find many more like this here.

Hello- I am very keen to know about the 'jamindari system' in Benagl. Where do I search and how do I search? Thanks for the help

Hello Asok, There is a great deal of material on what the British called the Zamindars on Google Books from the 18th & 19th Century. The whole issue of land taxation in Bengal caused huge rows here in Britain. This resulted in a massive amount being written in Britain and India both describing how the system worked before we arrived, and how we tried to operate with the system. I am currently actively researching this subject. Pages 247 to 293 in the following book has a lot about the system. The political commercial and financial condition of the Anglo-Eastern empire ... By Robert Montgomery Martin I think this link will take you there The political commercial and financial condition of the Anglo-Eastern empire ... By Robert Montgomery Martin Do you know what a Kanungos was? This is an 18th Century English spelling, so I expect there is a more modern spelling used in India. He was some sort of accountant operating under Jamindars. Perhaps what is called a Menon or Patel elsewhere in India. I can send you lots more references on this system if you need them. Nick Balmer

Asok Sen : Just posted a book on the abolition of the Zamindari system, which will give you a fair idea of this concept.

Hi Nick- Thanks a million!! Would that be possible for you to send few more references? I am interested to know how these Zaminders lived, their life style, how they raised tax on their subject in details. I'll contact you through FB and then let you know my e-mail address. Thanks

:( Sorry Nick...there are so many 'Nick's in the FB. Can you find me out please?